New-York tribune., 1887-11-23
Mr.. CLFVELANUS CHANCES.

| Mr.. Cleveland is certain to be rcnOmnatcd
and reelected. his friends now say. They
| claim that he is stronger now than he was III
1884 that his patty is far stronger, because
securely cntrcnchcd in the Offices and that
public apprehension of the harmful effect of a
Democratic victory has been dispcllcd by pros
perity These claims are seriously made, and
merit serious consideration.
In the last of them there is at this time con-
siderable truth. The commercial and indus
trial forces of the country certainly do not
realize to what extent disaster has been threat
cncd by the Democratic Administration and
party, nor how far it has been avertcd by Re
publican laws which the Democrats have as
vet been unable to deprive of vitality. The
entire financial system, excepting only the
changes respecting the issue Of silver ccrtli-
Gates, is of Republican origin. The consequences
| Of that change have yet to be realized. In
other respects the system is all hostile to Dem
ocratc theories and prcjudiccs. and yet it stands
| because the Democratic party is unable to agree
| on any change. The bank system gives to the
| country the best currency for iOcaI use that IL
| has ever known, and while not one business
man in hundred would consent to go back
to the old Democratic system of state banks, 1t
is nevertheless the fact that the National banks
would be destroyed in a single week if the
Democratic party had the power. The payment
of the public debt, the maintenance OF the pub
!lc credit. the redemption Of grccnbacks III
gold all stand because Republican laws. enacted
i'll spite of determined Democratic opposition,
have net yet been repealed. The majority OF
the Democratic party would alter these things If
it could. The impotence OF that party is due
to the Republican majority in the Senate. That
majority lost the safety of the country respect
ing its financial policy would suddenly vanish.
This is particularly true with regard to the
tariff At every session of Congress the Demo
cratic party tries TO break down the protective
system but has thus far failcd. 1t is not credit
to the Democratic Administration, nor TO tha!
party. that the industries of the country are
still sheltered from fatal competition and pros
pcrousy developing. but the credit is solely duc
TO the Republican members Of the Senate and
House. who have stmdIy resisted every Dem
ocIatic assault. Any serious departure from the
Republican policy in this respect would bIing
disasters winch cannot be estimated. Yet
great number of voters do in fact fail To apprc-
ciatc the efforts Of the Democratic .Admnlstfa-
ton and party to brng about this disaster, anu
fail to understand that ii has been prevented
only by Republican votes. Whether this state
Of pOpuiIr ignorance or misapprchcnslOn vii.
remain. depends much upon the action OF the
Democratic party IN Congress tins winter. but
il is also possible that any industrial setback
may bring home to the people sharply the mis-
chicvuus effects Of Democratic Encouragement.
Of the change in the currency resulting IRON
the issue Of silver small notes, and Of The cnor-
nous imitation effected by secretary Earchlld.
As 10 the other C inns. ii is certainly an error
TO hold that the Democratic party Is strength
cncd by the possession Of the Offices Its
patronage has only weakened the President
, ana the party. Neither is Mr.. Cleveland stronger
than in 1851 with his own party or with lndc-
pendent voters. The loyal clement III the
Democratic party has been dIsplcascd to an
extent which cannot now be measured. by the
diIoyalty. The reform sentiment has been IN
suited and outraged SO often that even the
professional rcfOrmciS begin to undclst that
they cannot afford To- defend Mr. Cleveland any
longer. Much is said just now Of the Prcsi-
dents letter urging the election Of Colonel
Fellows which was indeed killing hlow to his
independent sponsors. both because Of the per
sOnal unfitncss Of the man, and because 1t was
"A fragrant violation OF the President own order
prohibiting interference Of Federal officials in
elections. Yet il was not by any means the
worst or the most harmful Of the many acts by
which the essential hostility of the AdmnI>tra-
ton to the principles OF reform has been de-
monstratcd.